0947 GMT - Malaysia's inflation is expected to exceed 2.0% from May, as Middle East-linked supply pressures continue to lift fuel and food costs, UOB economists Julia Goh and Loke Siew Ting say in a note. Malaysia's headline inflation rose to 1.9% in April, while UOB expects full-year 2026 inflation to average 2.0%. The latest inflation and GDP data support a cautious stance by Bank Negara Malaysia amid external headwinds and second-round inflation risks, they say. They expect the overnight policy rate to remain at 2.75% until clearer shifts emerge in global and domestic conditions. (yingxian.wong@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 19, 2026 05:47 ET (09:47 GMT)
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